A single yellow rose at a 9/11 memorial. A wreath in remembrance. A promise to do better in caring for those who have served. Parades of thousands.
Across the United States on Wednesday, Americans found ways big and small to honor and remember members of all branches of the U.S. military on Veterans Day. The day marks the anniversary of the armistice that ended World War I and has become a day to honor all current and former veterans around the world.
A look at how the day was being observed around the globe:
Parades of Pride
Parades and other celebrations are being held throughout the country. New York City is hosting its 96th annual parade, the largest celebration of service in the nation. “America’s Parade” featured more than 20,000 participants, including marching bands, floats, veterans and military units.
Texas plans parades in Houston, Dallas, Fort Worth and Laredo, as well as a remembrance ceremony at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery in San Antonio. In Indianapolis, crowds are expected to line downtown streets as the parade passes by the city’s war memorials and monuments.
Seeking better care for Vets
President Barack Obama laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknowns and urged the nation to keep veterans in their thoughts long after Veterans Day.
In a ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery, Obama said the nation is boosting funding for the Department of Veterans Affairs and making progress on long-standing issues of veteran homelessness and in reducing a backlog of disability claims.
Honoring the fallen
Flowers and prayers were left at the graves of the fallen heroes across the nation in private ceremonies.
In New York, a single yellow rose was placed at the south pool of The National September 11 Memorial & Museum in honor of Veterans day on the name of first responder and Vietnam war veteran Robert Nagel who died during the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2015, in New York.
Europe pays tribute to their dead
Church bells tolled across Europe on Armistice Day to pay tribute to the millions of soldiers killed during World War I.
In Paris, thousands of people lined the Champs Elysees to watch President Francois Hollande lay a wreath at the Arc de Triomphe, where an eternal flame burns aside France’s Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
In Britain, crowds paused to observe two minutes of silence in streets and town squares, offices, churches and railway stations. Hundreds stood quietly in London’s Trafalgar Square and around the Cenotaph memorial in central London as the bongs of Parliament’s Big Ben bell sounded the hour.
The Associated Press contributed to this article
Screw the war mongering vets!
Well, well,My guess is that ( me says) is a candy ass that would poop in his panties at the site of a terrorist, or an enemy soldier taking over Me Says house.. May you have some revealing nightmares showing what our troops would go through to save a worthless candy ass like you..
Fear not “Me says”, veterans even fought for your right to say the things you say, no matter how moronic, vile and un-American you are. SEMPER FIDELIS
Being a viet nam Capt in the United States Marine Corps and fighting two tours.the above blog from “me says “screw the vets is probably not working with a full deck. I am extremely glad I did have to serve with or for him. My family lost two boys in viet nam , one was army capt. member of hundred and first from Fort Benning. The other 3rd marine devision also a capt. We came to the United States for freedom from Scicily and fought because of egnorant people like you could run your mouth about vets. Morta familigia!
The largest Veterans Parade west of the Mississippi is Las Vegas. It was estimated that there were more than 40 thousand in attendance. Las Vegas is a proud community filled with veterans So much is provided for them and with honor they were remembered yesterday on 11/11
Thank you, Charles and your family, we have generations of military service, and proud of it!!!